Last night at 9:12 p.m., an electrical fault on a section of 138,000-volt equipment in one of our Astoria substations caused a transmission disturbance and a sustained electrical arc flash, creating the blue light people witnessed. The equipment that malfunctioned is associated with voltage monitoring within the substation. There were no serious injuries, although one employee at the substation reported eye irritation associated with the arc flash.

The transmission disturbance caused lights to flicker throughout much of our service area, and several facilities, including LaGuardia Airport, Rikers Island, and some area hospitals, reported that their electrical systems switched to backup generation during the event. They were back on Con Edison power late last night. Service on the subway system’s 7 line in Queens was also impacted for about 30 minutes while track equipment was reset. Some other customer electrical equipment also shut off and had to be reset.

We apologize for the disruption to customers and will continue to investigate the root cause of the incident.

A TRANSFORMER EXPLOSION AT THE CON EDISON PLANT AT 23RD STREET AND 21ST AVENUE HAS CAUSED A FIRE AND TEMPORARY POWER OUTAGE IN ASTORIA QUEENS. EMERGENCY PERSONNEL HAS THE FIRE UNDER CONTROL. DEPUTY INSPECTOR NUNEZ, COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE 114TH PRECINCT OF THE NYPD ON SCENE. THIS INCIDENT DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE HAD ANY EFFECT ON ROOSEVELT ISLAND.

There are no air quality concerns for #Astoria following the #ConEd transformer blast, according to several agencies at the scene

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today called for the New York State Public Service Commission to investigate the cause behind a major electrical failure at a Con Edison substation in Astoria, Queens shortly after 9 p.m. yesterday. While the incident did not cause any significant injuries or apparently result in damage to personal property, it did raise questions about the safety of the substation and Con Edison equipment while also disrupting operations at LaGuardia Airport, the No. 7 subway line of the MTA and the city's prison system at Rikers Island, which had to switch to back-up generators.

"The electrical failure in Queens was more dramatic than destructive but it understandably raised community concerns about the safety of the substation and Con Edison's equipment," Governor Cuomo said. "That's why I am asking the Public Service Commission to work together with Con Ed to investigate the electrical failure and identify the root cause to help ensure an incident like this never happens again.

The state also deployed Department of Environmental Conservation spill response staff to the scene and confirmed that the small amount of material spilled was contained onsite and no impacts to the environment were observed. Con Edison has reported that the spill has been cleaned up.

According to Con Edison, last night at approximately 9:12 p.m. an electrical fault occurred at the Astoria East Substation located at 20th Avenue and 32nd Street in Astoria Queens. The electrical fault on the 138,000-volt equipment caused a sustained electrical arc flash that was visible across a wide area. Con Edison crews responded with FDNY. The affected equipment was isolated to a single section within the substation.

Con Edison has reported that Thursday's malfunction involved voltage-monitoring equipment at the substation, where high-voltage power is narrowed down to lower voltage for distribution. Normally when there is an electrical fault, a device similar to a circuit-breaker intervenes and quickly cuts off power to the affected equipment. In this incident, the device did not intervene and the electricity kept cycling through, causing the electrical flash. The affected equipment was isolated to a single section within the substation.

"Ensuring public safety is job number one for Con Edison and all utilities operating in New York State," PSC Chair John B. Rhodes said. "Our team of safety experts will commence an immediate investigation of what happened at the substation to help ensure that a repeat does not occur. If the company failed to adhere to our safety standards or otherwise adequately perform its obligations, we will commence a proceeding to determine whether further action is warranted."

Con Edison has restored all major transmission lines associated with this event and is in the process of investigating the cause of the failure. While portions of LaGuardia Airport were temporarily closed due to power outages, full power has been fully restored and the airport quickly resumed normal operations. Additionally, power issues on the No. 7 subway route were resolved and the line is running local service. There were no other significant reported power outages.

Today's actions build on New York's continued work to protect public safety and to create a power supply that is cleaner and greener for the future. Two years ago, Governor Cuomo announced plans to accelerate the closing of Indian Point's nuclear reactors because of their location in a densely populated region of the state and their record on safety at the site. This year, New York will be the most progressive state in the nation with the launch of the green new deal that will make the state's electricity 100 percent carbon neutral by 2040.

I was on out with my dog on Roosevelt Island when the sky lit up behind us. I didn’t hear a boom at all but I saw smoke rising soon after. Sky stayed blue for at least 5 mins then abruptly went black. https://t.co/OvRMaTo1Fm

There was a brief electrical fire at our substation on 20th Avenue & 32nd Street in Astoria this evening, which caused a transmission dip in the area. All power lines serving the area are in service and the system is stable. Photo: Michael Friedl, New York Times pic.twitter.com/vq2Ao46rhk

Last night’s electrical fault caused a sustained electrical arc flash & transmission disturbance. There were no injuries and all the power lines serving the area are stable. We apologize for the disruption to customers. Photo: Wall Street Journal. #Queens#Astoriapic.twitter.com/c6chBF4BFL

Roosevelt Island and Upper East Side NYC Council Member Ben Kallos publishes a monthly newsletter full of information he hopes is of interest and useful for his constituents. In one case, an item in the Kallos monthly newsletter saved the life of an Upper East Sider.

Here is a story about a life being saved and a new lease on life. Perfect for some holiday reading The newsletter that saved a life https://t.co/YNxUIe96mX

During the time Public Safety Department Chief Jack McManus is away from his Roosevelt Island post, we will publish an occasional column of his thoughts on various timely topics.

As many of you know, McManus gained the trust and respect of thousands here on the Island by his daily conversations, up and down Main Street, with seniors, children, young families, teen-agers; the disabled, business owners and more.

Enjoy his factual musings this week on the holiday season.

“The holiday season is always a special time. It is also a time when busy people become careless and vulnerable to theft, accidents and other holiday crimes. Here are a few of my tips for staying safe, sane and knucklehead free.

The top three days for potential home candle fires are Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Christmas Eve (let’s add in the Hanukkah and Kwanzaa weeks as well for our Jewish and African Americans friends). Please keep flammable items, including curtains and holiday decorations, at least three feet away from your candles. Place your menorah or kinara on a non-flammable surface to catch the melting candle wax, such as a tray lined with aluminum foil. Never leave lit candles unattended.

Keep all your car doors locked and windows closed while in or out of your car. If you must shop at night, (hello procrastinating husbands and boyfriends) park in a well-lit area. Do not leave packages or valuables on the seat of your car. This creates temptation for thieves.

Even though you may be rushed and preoccupied by a thousand things, remember to stay alert to your surroundings. Exercise extra caution if you carry a wallet or purse; they are the prime targets of criminals in crowded shopping areas, New York City subways, bus and ferry terminals and stops.

Don’t overload yourself with packages and bags of gift purchases; make two trips if you must. Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason. Con-artists may try to distract you with the intention of swindling your hard-earned money or belongings.

Large displays of holiday gifts should not be visible through the windows and doors of your home. Show-offs get ripped off.

If you’re hosting a party, be kind and responsible by having non-alcoholic beverages available to your guests. Arrange for an official designated driver (who will not drink at all) for the party before it begins. Eat before you drink; preferably high protein foods that slow the absorption of alcohol into your body. Know your limits, the holidays are not the time to explore them. And please don’t drink and drive.

I hope you guys enjoyed my first column.

Also thank you dearly for your calls and messages of support for me. My wish is that all of Roosevelt Island’s residents, business people, professors, students – and my staff and colleagues at the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) have a happy holiday and an even better new year.” - Chief Jack McManus

Thanks for ALL your support this past year. RIVAA's art exhibits, jazz salons, poetry slams & more could not have been done without your generosity. Please consider contributing to our end-of-the year fundraiser to help us welcome even more creativity to Roosevelt Island in 2019. It's easy--just go to this site and follow the instructions to donate by credit card. ANY amount will truly help......

A resident tried to buy a Christmas Tree today but the vendor was not there under the Motorgate...

... Does the PTA know if the vendor will be back and why were they not there today?

A 217 PTA representative replied that they were told the following by the Christmas Tree vendor yesterday:

We sold out of tress yesterday and will be working on getting some more for next week.
As discussed, there is a run on trees this season and we took all that we could get ( please see links)
I believe that we will have for at least next Sat.

We will do everything we can in order to serve the community...I promise...

Please note that Finkel & Son managed to get 17 high quality Christmas Trees. They will be selling them on Saturday 12/22 starting at 9 am, next to the Motorgate garage. They will sell on a first come first serve basis. They will probably be sold out and closed on Sunday 12/23.

Wireless device connectivity on Roosevelt Island is about to be vastly improved, and less congested, during the next few weeks.

Crown Castle International Corp., the nation’s largest provider of shared communications infrastructure, will be installing 22 unique small cell locations on the Island covering from north to south. The antennas and fiber-optic cable-based networking will provide coverage and capacity for up to four data/phone service carriers including Verizon

Small cells are important wireless infrastructure that increase capacity and connectivity for mobile devices. They are small, low-powered antennas that can be installed on light and utility poles, street signs, and even on rooftops. Crown Castle, under a 10-year licensing agreement, will be building and maintaining this fiber ring around Roosevelt Island to supply various locations with better connectivity.

As the Roosevelt Island community continues to grow, more residents, businesses, students and visitors are relying on wireless devices to connect to the Internet and communicate (more than 50 percent of all U.S. households rely only on wireless phones; and some 80 percent of all 911 calls are made from wireless devices). When too many people try to use their mobile devices, the network can become overloaded: calls drop or don’t connect.

Small cells, like the ones being installed around the Island, can and will relieve this wireless congestion....

Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) President Judy Berdy spotted this "hybrid monster lamppost" yesterday at Good Shepherd Plaza and does not like it.

The abomination on Main Street.

Today, this object appeared at the Chapel Plaza.

This is another example of RIOC's disregard for the cityscape, appearance, and necessity of an obtrusive object. Along with the "RI" letters at the Tram Plaza we now have the WI-FI tower smack dab in front of the Chapel Plaza. The Chapel is a landmark structure, but unfortunately the Plaza is not, which means inappropriate objects can be placed there.

I attended RIOC meetings where the installation was discussed and never saw a rendering by Crown Castle the contractor that was anywhere as obtrusive as this wifi tower

The RIOC staff hides the truth from the community and insults our cityscape with obtrusive installations.

The RIOC Grinch has stolen our Chapel Plaza from us, again.

According to this excerpt from Castle Crown's November 2017 presentation to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors:

Pole attachments in the public right of way proposed in 23 unique locations (some of the pole attachments will be colocations):
• 22 for T-Mobile
• 21 for Verizon
• 20 attachments are colocations with both Verizon and T-Mobile

All locations will feed back to a Hub location via fiber optic cable which will be located off of the Island for both Verizon and T-Mobile

1. License will enable Crown Castle to access the public right of way poles on Roosevelt Island
2. License is for a 10-year term with 3 – successive terms of 5-years.
3. Compensation for use of the poles to RIOC from Crown is $3,390.48 per location with an annual CPI adjustment.
4. Crown Castle is responsible for its own electrical utility charges.
5. Crown Castle will be building and maintaining a fiber ring around Roosevelt Island to supply the locations with connectivity.

The medical needs of this 2 mile long historic island on the East River is a perfect landscape for our services.

RIUC is the first health care facility on the Island. Currently local residents must travel to either Manhattan or Astoria, for treatment—a trip that requires the use of a tram, subway, bus or car. Our facility in essence created a full-service medical center for a growing population of 15,000. RIUC is here to serve your needs.

These needs will increase in the near future with the addition of new multi-family developments and the new Cornell NYC Tech campus, which is under construction and due to open this year. The University is relying on our center to tend to the medical needs of the students and faculty. Roosevelt Island Urgent Care is also well positioned to provide services to the many construction workers who are on the Island during the next few years.

The opinions of two Roosevelt Island residents about Cornell Tech are quoted in the article too. One critical:

... Some Roosevelt Island residents have also complained about the continuing campus construction, while others said Cornell Tech had not paid enough to support local neighborhood services, such as street cleaning and landscaping.

“They’re a very prestigious institution that is free-riding off the backs of a working population to function in an environment that they really are not adequately paying for,” said Joyce Short, a writer and longtime resident....

and the other positive:

... The school’s technology lessons have spilled over to the neighborhood. Cornell Tech has supported computer science instruction at the public elementary and middle school. Its students have taught classes at a senior center on protecting against online fraud and created a web page featuring open spaces on the island for the gardening club.

Jay Jacobson, 82, a retired lawyer who lives on Roosevelt Island, recently worked with Cornell Tech students to address a daily problem for older people: how to carry a shopping bag when holding onto a walker? They came up with a 3-D-printed hinge to attach to a walker.

“I’m so glad I’m part of their community,” he said. “It’s just a delight to have them.”...

Donation of cans, jars and packaged food are welcome. They can be dropped off at the Senior Center on Wednesday and Friday all day or Thursday after 1pm. If you need a pickup, please email Wendy Hersh at whersh@nyc.rr.com

Ms Hersh adds:

Since Pay It Forward was not able to give food boxes to the needy this year due to unforeseen circumstances, I felt as President of RI Disabled Association that we needed to step up to do something since there are so many in need in our community.

It’s just our part of helping those in need. Of course not to the extent of what we did with Pay It Forward, but it’s something.

I went to Motorgate Gristedes today December 16th, because I saw that they're supposed to be selling Christmas trees from 9 a.m. To 3 p.m. I don't see anything. It's supposed to be selling these Christmas trees through December 23rd through next weekend....

... I went down there twice and there's absolutely no one there. I doubt it's the weather. It's not snowing or a blizzard. It's just rain, so I don't know what's going on. There should be some information or a note left for people so they don't waste their time.

A resident tried to buy a Christmas Tree today but the vendor was not there under the Motorgate...

... Does the PTA know if the vendor will be back and why were they not there today?

A 217 PTA representative replied that they were told the following by the Christmas Tree vendor yesterday:

We sold out of tress yesterday and will be working on getting some more for next week.
As discussed, there is a run on trees this season and we took all that we could get ( please see links)
I believe that we will have for at least next Sat.

Inmo Yang violin
Hailed by the Boston Globe for “seamless technique and a tender warmth of tone,” he won the 54th International Violin Competition in Genoa, Italy, marking the first time since 2006 that the jury awarded First Prize.

Julia Hamos piano
Winner of the Sterndale Bennett Prize at the Royal Academy of Music and the Mannes College of Music Fidelman Prize for contemporary music, she performs internationally as a soloist and chamber musician.

Oliver Aldort cello
A member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, he also peforms as a soloist throughout North America, appearing with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Northwest, and the Newton Symphony Orchestra.

Haydn Trio in a major
Ravel Trio
Brahms Trio No. 1 in B Major

If you're considering supporting R&R Concerts, contribute now at certain levels to receive reserved seats for performances throughout the next year, including on December 15.

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WELCOME TO ROOSEVELT ISLAND

Welcome to the Roosevelt Islander Online!

Roosevelt Island is a mixed income, racially diverse waterfront community situated in the East River of New York City between Manhattan and Queens and is jurisdictionally part of Manhattan. The Roosevelt Island Tramway, which connects Roosevelt Island to the rest of Manhattan, has become the iconic symbol of Roosevelt Island to its residents.

The Purpose of this Blog is to provide accurate and timely information about Roosevelt Island as well as a forum for residents to express opinions and engage in a dialogue to improve our community.